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To celebrate the arrival of the fascinating new book Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, a unique collaboration is underway. Pokémon's creators and the Natural History Museum are opening a temporary store stocked with exclusive merchandise. Fans can look forward to offerings including stationery, plushes, and artwork that are drawing from the museum's theme. For collectors, however, is a limited-edition Pikachu card, given as a gift with purchase at the pop-up. The store will operate both the physical location and online between late January and mid-April.

Pokécology Behind the Collaboration

Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology represents a much-awaited tome packed with beautiful illustrations that show creatures in their natural habitats. It's essentially like the kind of research a Pokémon Professor could produce once adventurers submit their data, alternatively a naturalist's journal might have created had the famous islands were populated by Pidgeys instead of birds. A key appeal lies in the book's scholarly treatment, treating Pokémon as worthy of scientific study. Author Yoshinari Yonehara together with artist Chihiro Kinoshita both hold PhDs in ecology and behavioral science.

What Makes This Promo Card Stand Out

It is common to issue to release promos for major tournaments or brand collaborations. A lot of these promotional cards often feature the iconic electric rodent who serves as the franchise mascot. The factor setting this new museum card is its distinctly bigger dimensions. While precise specs were not immediately shared, availability is guaranteed to be highly restricted, with fans limited to just one card with each transaction.

Curbing Speculator Activity

Per a company statement, some of the merchandise will also be sold outside the institution itself. But, broader availability will only be specific stores within the United Kingdom. Importantly, collectors cannot purchase this promo through the online Pokémon Center. Although speculator demand is inevitable, the setup suggests they're going to have trouble hoarding mass quantities this time around. For those unable to attend, there is an alternative like Pokémon Fossil exhibit headed to the Windy City in the coming months.

"All profits from purchases from the museum store and from its web shop, including these items, go toward the Natural History Museum’s charitable mission. This includes the efforts of hundreds of researchers who are conducting studies to discover answers to the planetary emergency," it notes.